Wendy's Lionel Promotion

The official Lionel/Wendy's promotion does not kick off for a few more days. However, I was able to find a Wendy's in the Toronto area (I am on a business trip in the GTA) today that had two of the four cars available so I picked them up. There were no banners or posters announcing the promotion yet and the sample kids meal display still displayed the previous toys.

I picked up the blue car and the red caboose. The packaging includes the Wendy's and Lionel logos and "THE EERIE EXPRESS". Each car is plastic with wheels to operate the car and the cars have hook and pin couplers to connect the cars. The cars are 3 to 4" long, 1-1/2" high and 1-1/4" wide. The cars have a halloween theme with ghosts, bats and spiders on them. The cars also have a round Lionel logo on them.

The blue car operates similar to the Lionel operating aquarium car. As the car rolls a film with scarey creatures chase each other and can be viewed through two large open windows on each side of the car. The caboose has a disc with ghosts and bats on it that rolls in a slot across the top of the caboose simulating them flying across the top of the car as the car rolls.

Each package contains a small coupon with "Lucky" (recently change to Lenny) the Lionel Lion anouncing Lionel Trains and the coupon shows three of the latest Lionel train sets. The coupon is for 8 pieces of track when you buy one of 9 qualifying Lionel train sets. The coupon is very small 1-1/2" by 6". The three sets show are a little hard to see.

Hopefully, the posters and displays will probably start appearing and will add to the visability of the hobby.

Regards,

Tim Pignatari

A penny saved is a penny earned. But every once in a while it is good to treat yourself to a gum ball.

Lionel Has formally announced their "Kids Meal" Promotion in Wendy's Resturants. I am looking forward to seeing what impact this type of promotion will have on the hobby. Hopefully it will help bring new interest into the hobby with the exposure to kids that kids meals can provide. The following was posted on the Lionel Web site on July 16th:

Lionel Announces License Promotion with Wendy’s Restaurants

(Chesterfield, Mich.,) -- Lionel recently announced that they have teamed up with Wendy’s International, Inc. (NYSE: WEN), the third largest quick-service hamburger chain in the world, and will be featured in a Kid’s Meal promotional theme from Oct. 30, 2002 through Nov. 17, 2002.

The promotion will include different interactive Lionel branded toys that are tied into a "Eerie Express" railroading theme. The promotion will also include train-related kids activities on the Wendy’s Kids website at www.wendyskids.com and on the Lionel website at www.lionel.com. The promotion will be supported by in-store point-of-purchase materials and regional advertising campaigns. The Wendy’s Kids’ Meal is targeted to children ages three and up.

"Lionel is proud to partner with Wendy’s on this exciting and timely fourth quarter promotion," said Julie Laird, licensing and communications manager at Lionel. "The Wendy’s Kids’ Meal is an ideal way to expose children to the interactive magic of Lionel trains during our peak selling season." The Wendy’s promotion, which will occur in over 5,500 restaurants in the United States and Canada, marks the first time Wendy’s and Lionel have worked together.

An exclusive Lionel Train Set Track Offer will be included in every Kids’ Meal. Customers can redeem the coupon found in the "Eerie Express" polybags at an Authorized Lionel Value Added Dealer, purchase a Lionel train set and receive eight pieces of Lionel straight track FREE! (A $10.00 value).

A penny saved is a penny earned. But every once in a while it is good to treat yourself to a gum ball.